Nadimarg Pandits held 'hostage'

TNNApr 10, 2003, 06.03am IST

SRINAGAR: Fearing bad publicity arising out of mass migration of Kashmiri Pandits in the aftermath of the recent massacre in Pulwama district, survivors at the Nadimarg village are being held back "against their wishes", living as "literal hostages".

Scores of police and para-military personnel stationed at the village after the massacre have frustrated the efforts of kin of the deceased Kashmiri Pandits to leave the Valley for Jammu. Survivors allege that any vehicle carrying an outsider KP is not allowed inside the village nor a KP with baggage permitted to move out. Despite all these precautions, three of a total of 31 survivors did manage to leave for Jammu on Monday last.

The government deployed a platoon each of JKAP and CRPF while Army remain on patrol round the clock. However, this has no effect at all.